Hungary at Wales
UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying | Group E
Tuesday, Nov. 19 | 1:45 p.m. CT | ESPN2, ESPN App
Cardiff City Stadium | Cardiff, Wales
A berth in UEFA Euro 2020 is up for grabs Tuesday when Sporting Kansas City defender Botond Barath and the Hungary Men’s National Team visit Wales on the final matchday of Euro qualifying. Kickoff at Cardiff City Stadium is slated for 1:45 p.m. CT, airing live nationally on ESPN2 and streaming via the ESPN App.
The scenarios in Group E of Euro qualifying could hardly be any more dramatic ahead of Tuesday’s titanic clash between the visiting Magyars and Welsh hosts. For both nations, the prevailing message is this: win and you’re in.
Indeed, should Hungary or Wales emerge with all three points on Tuesday, their ticket will be punched to Euro 2020 as the second-place finisher in Group E. A total of 24 teams are slated to participate in the quadrennial competition, with the 2020 edition taking place in 12 cities across 12 different European countries next summer.
It is possible that Barath and Hungary clinch second place with a draw, as well, but such an outcome would require fourth-place Slovakia to drop points at home against Azerbaijan in the other Group E match that kicks off simultaneously. The Magyars are unlikely to view that possibility with much optimism, given the fact that archrival Slovakia will be heavy favorites versus an Azerbaijan side that has collected just one point in Euro qualifying.
UEFA EURO 2020 QUALIFYING: GROUP E STANDINGS
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Country</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
1 |
Croatia <strong>(Q)</strong> |
17 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
17 |
7 |
+10 |
2 |
Hungary <strong>(X)</strong> |
12 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
9 |
-1 |
3 |
Wales <strong>(X)</strong> |
11 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
+2 |
4 |
Slovakia <strong>(X)</strong> |
10 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
11 |
11 |
0 |
5 |
Azerbaijan |
1 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
16 |
-11 |
(Q) -Qualified for UEFA Euro 2020
(X) -Can qualify as 2nd-place finisher; assured of playoffs
With that in mind, it’s safe to say that if Tuesday’s contest between Hungary and Wales produces a winner, wild celebrations will run their course on the Cardiff City Stadium pitch. The Magyars have an opportunity to seal their second straight European Championship appearance, having competed at the 2016 edition in France after a remarkable 44-year absence. Wales, led by Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale, made their European Championship debut in 2016 and are equally desperate to return in 2020.
As Hungary, Wales and Slovakia look to join Group E winners Croatia as automatic qualifiers, falling short on Tuesday won’t be entirely catastrophic. The third- and fourth-place finishers in Group E will drop into the Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs next March, which will feature a quartet of four-team, single-elimination brackets. The four winners in each of the brackets will take the last four berths at Euro 2020.
Barath earned his 10th Hungary cap on Friday as the Magyars hosted South American powers Uruguay in a friendly tune-up at the brand-new Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The stadium’s inaugural match saw Uruguay prevail by a 2-1 scoreline, with Barath starting and playing 72 minutes in central defense.
